CEBU, Philippines - The Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 rejected a total of 156 mining rights applications last year as part of the bureau’s continuing cleansing efforts.

MGB-7 needs to reject non-performing or sluggish mining rights applications to leave only the potential ones that would contribute to the revitalization of the mining industry in Central Visayas.

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The North Korean ship loaded with magnetite sand and which listed off the coast of Claveria, Cagayan, on Friday has bolstered suspicion that illegal mining continued in the province’s beaches, a member of a local environment group said.

ATM commemorates the life of the great Dr. Jose P. Rizal, a renowned advocate for reforms in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. Yearly, December thirty (30) has been observed as Rizal Day, a Philippine holiday, in commemoration of Rizal's execution day in 1896 at Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park). Rizal died at the age of 35. His martyred death further precipitated the Philippine Revolution.

Rizal is a national hero in the Philippines, who founded La Liga Filipina, a civic organization that subsequently gave birth to the revolutionary movement known as the Katipunan. He is also a known poet, essayist, diarist, correspondent, and novelist. His most famous novels were Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

Read Rizal's insights on mining in one of his essays...

Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) would like to thank its members, partners and supporters for making 2009 a year filled with camaraderie, courageous human spirit and strong faith in God. The year 2009 has been another memorable year for all of us. There were victories and mishaps along the way. Every year our network grow and we reach out to a wider constituency because of the continued support and unwavering devotion of each and every advocate who stands, shouts, barricades, lobbies, laughs, cries and prays with us. This year has also been sorrowful as as we've lost some our human rights advocates, environmental warriors and friends along the way fighting for our cause and they will surely be missed.

We now welcome another year filled with hope as we anticipate more challenges to come. May 2010 bring us a new administration that will lead our nation to brighter tomorrow.

GUYUN VILLAGE, China — Some of the greenest technologies of the age, from electric cars to efficient light bulbs to very large wind turbines, are made possible by an unusual group of elements called rare earths. The world’s dependence on these substances is rising fast. Just one problem: These elements come almost entirely from China, from some of the most environmentally damaging mines in the country, in an industry dominated by criminal gangs.

Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental – Early morning of December 24th, Alberto “Berting” Pinagawa, a Higaonon anti-logging leader hiked from his house in Sitio Muyo, Brgy. Minalwang, Claveria, Misamis Oriental together with his 13 year old nephew to Brgy. Eureka, Gingoog City to catch for a “habal-Habal” ride in time for the family Christmas get-together in Brgy. Kalipayan, Gingoog City.

Read two articles on global miner BHP Billiton: 1) selling its stake in the Philippine nickel project and 2) questions abound about the future of its nickel operations

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also urges richer nations to contribute to a multi-billion dollar fund to help poorer countries cope with global warming which will become operational in January.